More visitors came to Omaha in 2018 than in any other year on record.That's the finding of the latest research commissioned by the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau that it will release Monday.Some 13.1 million visitors came to the city last year, a 6% increase over the last year the city conducted research in 2016."I think what's really exciting about it is that in all categories we are up year over year," said Keith Backsen, the Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director.Omaha visitors spent $1.3 billion in 2018, an 6.5% increase over 2016. That spending generates $286 million in taxes, and the out-of-town money generates a savings of roughly $750 a year for each Douglas County household."If the city didn't have those tax dollars, we'd either be cutting city services or your property tax bill would be going up," Backsen said.Omaha's ability to attract larger events to the CHI Health Center was helped as the Capitol District and its new full service Marriott hotel opened, Backsen said. But even with those new amenities near the downtown convention center, the tourism boss says the city will have to grow its event infrastructure in the years ahead."We are constantly competing against Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Kansas City and Oklahoma City," Backsen explained. "Each of those are putting investments into their infrastructure and into their tourism assets, specifically their convention centers." Proposed expansion at Milwaukee convention center could help keep business in the city. Watch the report from our sister station WISN-TV:The city of Omaha opened the CHI Health Center arena and convention building in 2003. While the $300 million building has undergone renovations since it opened, there has been no major expansion of the space.Backsen said better transportation options in Omaha will also help him land even more out-of-town business."You have to look at how you get people from the airport into downtown and out into the neighborhoods," he said. "Yeah, you can grab a cab, but if it's only $2 to get on a light rail or a dedicated trolley to get out to Blackstone or Dundee or even further, those are things that make a difference."In the latest comparison of growth from 2016 to 2018, Omaha has a stronger story to tell than its competitor south on I-29. While Kansas City saw nearly 10 million more visitors than Omaha, its growth during the two-year time period was flat.Big 12 basketball tournament visitors ride the Kansas City streetcar to get around the area. Watch the report from our sister station KMBC-TV:The Greater Omaha Chamber has undertaken an ambitious plan to enhance the region's transportation options.The business group is working on a framework for better connecting neighborhoods in the urban core of Omaha, and funding mechanisms for the infrastructure upgrades.Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert is also pitching a $200 million road maintenance plan to the city's voters.Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says Omaha 'needs, wants' transportation alternatives:Even without those big changes in transportation options and meeting space, Backsen still says Omaha has a lot to offer visitors and business groups. He cites a robust food scene, a geographically central location and generally low costs as attractions.Marketing money directed to Minneapolis during the NCAA Final Four and the Super Bowl worked, he said. The Convention and Visitors Bureau wrapped a light rail train in Visit Omaha branding."We've seen incremental increases in visitors from there," Backsen said. "We even hear it from our hoteliers who say they are seeing more people out of Minnesota."